A downtown Las Vegas casino is taking a gamble by rolling out a casino version of a classic family game.

Golden Nugget Las Vegas has added 3-Dice Yahtzee to its gaming floor, becoming the first casino in Las Vegas to offer the table game, according to Galaxy Gaming, the game’s developer.

The house-banked game pits two sets of three dice against each other, with players wagering on whether the Red or Blue side will win, or whether the two sides will tie.

“There’s a reason Yahtzee has been a favorite around kitchen tables for generations, and we wanted to bring that same fun to the casino pit,” said Tyler Knight, director of product management at Galaxy Gaming. “3-Dice Yahtzee takes the excitement of Yahtzee and turns it into a fast, head-to-head table game. Golden Nugget is our first Las Vegas installation, and after seeing how well players in other markets have taken to it, we think Las Vegas is going to love it too.”

Galaxy Gaming is “bringing a fresh twist to a familiar favorite,” a Golden Nugget representative said in a statement.

3-Dice Yahtzee combines the “excitement of classic dice play with the energy of a casino table,” and “delivers fast-paced, easy-to-follow action,” with “plenty of opportunities for players to test their luck and strategy,” according to the casino. It is “designed for an engaging group experience,” and “gives players a new way to enjoy the timeless thrill of rolling the dice.”

Each hand is ranked as a Yahtzee, straight or “Chance.” A Yahtzee, or three matching dice, is the highest-ranking hand, followed by a three-dice straight. If neither hand has a Yahtzee or straight, the three dice are added together for the Chance score, with the higher total winning.

There is one unusual exception: If the winning Chance score is 10 against a losing score of 8, the wager on the winning side pushes rather than paying even money. Players can make a separate optional wager on that exact outcome, which pays 35-to-1.

Casinos can also configure the game to offer enhanced payouts when the winning hand is three 6s. Depending on the version being offered, a winning 6-6-6 Yahtzee can pay 6-to-5 or 3-to-2 instead of the standard even-money payout.

3-Dice Yahtzee also offers several optional bonus bets and a progressive wager based on the combined six dice from the Red and Blue hands. Progressive payouts are available for five- and six-dice Yahtzees and straights, including a jackpot for rolling six 6s.

Las Vegas-based Galaxy Gaming debuted 3-Dice Yahtzee in January at the International Casinos Exhibition, or ICE, in Barcelona as part of its licensing agreement with Hasbro to bring Yahtzee and Monopoly-branded games to casino floors. The game has since been introduced in other markets before making its Las Vegas debut at Golden Nugget.

Contact David Danzis at ddanzis@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0378. Follow @AC2Vegas_Danzis on X.